News

Nick Schultz News

Bio

Nick Schultz Bio

A veteran defenseman, Schultz has drawn praise for his steady play and game-day preparation, and the fact that he never takes a shift off.

The second NHL Draft selection in Minnesota Wild history (second round, No. 33, in 2000), Schultz began his NHL career with Minnesota, playing 52 games during the 2001-02 season and quickly establishing himself as one of the Wild's most reliable defensemen. He led the Wild with a plus-11 rating in 2002-03 and was tied for first the next season at plus-12.

A veteran defenseman, Schultz has drawn praise for his steady play and game-day preparation, and the fact that he never takes a shift off.

The second NHL Draft selection in Minnesota Wild history (second round, No. 33, in 2000), Schultz began his NHL career with Minnesota, playing 52 games during the 2001-02 season and quickly establishing himself as one of the Wild's most reliable defensemen. He led the Wild with a plus-11 rating in 2002-03 and was tied for first the next season at plus-12.

Schultz also proved to be one of Minnesota's most durable players, becoming the first defenseman in franchise history to play in all 82 regular-season games (2006-07). He also was the first player to appear in 500 games for the Wild (Feb. 8, 2009, against the Edmonton Oilers) and his mark of 743 games played with Minnesota stood as the franchise record until Mikko Koivu broke it in 2015-2016.

Schultz has also been one of the NHL's most willing shot-blockers; in 2008-09, he led the Wild in blocked shots (152) for the fourth straight season. He is a sound if not flashy player who is counted on regularly to kill penalties and shut down top forwards.

He is also an accomplished player internationally. Schultz played for Canada at the World Junior Championship in 2001 and 2002 and helped Canada win a gold medal at the World Championship in 2004 and 2007.

Schultz played in Minnesota until Feb. 27, 2012, when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Tom Gilbert. He was traded March 5, 2014, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifth-round draft pick in 2014, before signing a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 2, 2014.

Schultz played his 1,000th NHL game Jan. 13, 2016, against the Boston Bruins.